New evidence has confirmed that all Londoners are now breathing cleaner air following the first year of the expanded Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ). Roadside nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels, which contribute to asthma and lung disease, have dropped by 27% across the capital.
The report, reviewed by an independent advisory group, also found that particle emissions (PM2.5) from vehicle exhausts in outer London were 31% lower in 2024 than they would have been without the ULEZ expansion. NOx emissions from cars and vans in outer London have also fallen by an estimated 14%.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “When I was first elected, evidence showed it would take 193 years to bring London’s air pollution within legal limits if the current efforts continued. However, due to our transformative policies we are now close to achieving it this year. Today’s report shows that ULEZ works, driving down levels of pollution, taking old polluting cars off our roads and bringing cleaner air to millions more Londoners.
“The decision to expand the ULEZ was not something I took lightly, but this report shows it was the right one for the health of all Londoners.”
Dr Maria Neira, director of the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health at the World Health Organization, said: “Improving air quality through initiatives like the Ultra Low Emission Zone in London is crucial for protecting public health and reducing the burden of disease. Cleaner air leads to healthier communities, lower rates of respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses, and a better quality of life for all residents.”
The report highlights that deprived communities are seeing some of the greatest benefits, with an estimated 80% reduction in people exposed to illegal pollution levels in 2023, rising to 82% in outer London.
TfL data shows that 96.7% of vehicles now meet ULEZ standards, up from 91.6% in June 2023 and 39% in 2017, demonstrating a major shift towards cleaner vehicles. Van compliance in outer London has exceeded 90% for the first time.
Christina Calderato, TfL’s director of strategy, said: “Bold and ambitious environmental schemes like the ULEZ are pivotal to making tangible long-term air quality improvements to tackle a public health crisis, as shown in this new report. Everyone in the capital is now breathing cleaner air because of ULEZ.”
The report also found that visitor footfall in outer London increased by almost 2% in the year following the expansion, and there was no negative impact on retail and leisure spending.
